Tag: kings

Read Before Watching v03.29

Welcome to the new and (hopefully) improved “Read Before Watching”. Each week I run down the shows I’m looking forward to and now I’m adding promos for the next episodes. Let me know what you think of the new format. Now, here’s what I’m tuning in to watch this week.

SUNDAY
Kings (8:00PM, NBC)
Kings is a pretty fantastic show that no one is watching, unfortunately. What else are you doing Sundays at 8:00? Watch the season promo below (apologies for the ad) and then check it out. It’s one of the best acted, best written shows on TV and you will be greatly entertained for your efforts.

MONDAY
Chuck (8:00PM, NBC)
Any geek and nerd worth his +5 to WIS already watches this show, right? There’s a few subplot threads that are most likely building to an interesting season finale and, hey, Tricia Helfer is in this week’s episode! Will NBC just go ahead an renew this show already?!?

Heroes (9:00PM, NBC)
I’ve enjoyed this season so far, but will admit it’s been in a little bit of a slump as far as moving stories along. The return of Bryan Fuller has certainly improved that and the show is firmly back in it’s grove. After last week’s double dose of death, can things get any worse? How about a Sylar-Danko bromance?

Castle (10:00PM, ABC)
Nathan Fillion back on TV each week getting to cut loose…what could possibly go wrong? Fortunately, nothing. This is a solid show and worth you staying up late on Mondays. You’ll think you have the crime solved early on and then again after the first twist, but you’ll be wrong. Did I mention it stars “Captain Tightpants”?

TUESDAY
The Mentalist (9:00PM, CBS)
The Mentalist is right up there with Kings and Lost as one of the best shows on TV. Simon Baker’s Patrick Jane has become one of the most fascinating characters in the history of TV and the whole cast is pretty fantastic. You won’t be lost if you join in now, so tune in.

WEDNESDAY
Lie To Me (8:00PM, FOX)
This one is starting to wear thin on me. It’s not that it’s not enjoyable, it just seems pretty standard to me. A great big “meh”, but check it out and tell me I’m wrong. Here’s an overview of the show for you.

Lost (9:00PM, ABC)
Best. Show. On. TV. ‘Nuff said.

THURSDAY
ER (9:00PM, NBC)
ER ends it’s fifteen year run this week. This show has more than earned the right to have everyone watch it’s two-hour send-off. Tune in and bid a fond farewell to the staff of County General Hospital. Looks like there will be some old friends showing up.

FRIDAY
Dollhouse (9:00PM, FOX)
This show started out pretty weak, but the last couple of weeks have been a definite improvement. I really hope this week continues the up tick in quality. I’m certainly interested in seeing how some of the new plot threads pan out.

That’s it for this week. Tune in again next week for another round of previews, including a look at season five of Rescue Me.

Read Before Watching: March 16th

4

SPOTLIGHT: KINGS
I was prepared to dislike Kings, I really was. Usually, if a show gets universal praise and is instantly loved, especially prior to any episodes even airing, I’m resistant to giving it a chance. Call it a character flaw. So, it was with considerable reluctance that I watched the premiere episode. What did I think? Well, without an ounce of hyperbole or even the smallest amount of exaggeration, I would say Kings is the best series on television right now. Yes, after just one episode, it is that good. The story is a modern day retelling of the Biblical story of King David, yes he of David and Goliath fame. It’s probably more accurate to say “loosely based”, but all the major players are there, even if some are renamed somewhat. The setting has been updated to a contemporary alternate version of the United States. That pitch right there made me go “meh” at first, I freely admit. There’s also the problem of a very familiar story; even if you’ve never been to Sunday School, you pretty much know how it’s going to play out. That should in no way deter you from watching this extraordinary show.

kings01

 

I first saw Ian McShane in an episode of Space:1999 many, many years ago, but really came to appreciate him as an actor in the highly acclaimed (and much missed) series Lovejoy. My appreciation for his work has only increased in leaps and bounds over the years. I thought that his role as Al Swearengen in Deadwood would be his crowning achievement, but his portrayal here of King Silas trumps that. He handles every scene flawlessly, even when he’s silently reacting to another character. All the other actors all bring their best to this as well, in particular, and most surprisingly, Christopher Egan as David. Egan plays David as a very naive boy who only wants to see good in the world and doesn’t yearn for nor want power. But you can see flashes of the leader he is destined to be as the story progresses and in Egan’s performance. That should be enough prompting right there to get you to watch the premiere on NBC.com and then tune in every Sunday at 8:00 PM to watch this magnificent tale unfold.

kings02

 

RUNNER-UP:

Castle
This is another show I wasn’t too sure of, but knew I would be checking out just based on the fact that it stars Nathan Fillion. I’m pleased to say that it turned out way better than I expected. True, it’s another procedural show, but any series with a literary bent is ok in my book. This one airs on ABC Mondays at 10:00 PM, so it won’t interfere with you catching Chuck and Heroes, which are on a break this week anyway. Castle has been firmly added to the “watch” list.

castle01

 

THE REST OF THE WEEK
The Mentalist is back after a month hiatus and is now on Tuesdays at 9:00PM on CBS. Lie To Me (when it actually is on) is now airing on Wednesdays at 8:00PM on Fox, which means it is now no longer up against the second best show, ABC’s Lost, which airs an hour later on ABC. Ok, Dollhouse definitely improved last week so, as long as it maintains at least this level of quality or better, I’m in for the rest of the season. It airs on Fox Fridays at 9:00PM, however this week you’re going to want to DVR it. Friday at 9:00PM on SCI FI (soon to be SyFy) airs the final two hours of Battlestar Galactica. I’m still saying it isn’t going to end well, but end it will. Check back next week for my wrap-up of the entire series.

That’s it for this week. See you Sunday for another look at what I’ll be watching next week.